SkillsUSA 2025: MCC in ATL

For the past three years, the number of Metropolitan Community College students participating in the SkillsUSA events at the state and national level has steadily increased, along with the number of medals brought back to campus.

This year, nearly 140 high school and college students competed under the MCC banner in the statewide championships. Almost half of them received either a gold, silver or bronze medal. Nineteen of them received top honors, punching their ticket to SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. The MCC Foundation supports MCC student participation and travel to nationals, creating a unique learning experience. In Atlanta, qualifying students compete in more than 100 timed and judged events related to their area of study against the top postsecondary and high school students in the country. The event brings together more than 6,500 students annually.

“I was thrilled to see the level of participation by our students across all of our programs and so many competing at SkillsUSA Nebraska for the first time,” said Scott Broady, MCC dean of skilled trades and technical sciences.

But, sometimes, the best part of competing isn’t the medal, but rather the experience, which begins in Grand Island at the state event each April.

Unless you’ve been to a SkillsUSA competition before, you’re not likely to comprehend its size. SkillsUSA Nebraska takes over several of the buildings at Fonner Park in Grand Island — over half a million square feet of exhibition space.

“Once you get to see everybody, and what they're capable of, you realize you’ve got to step it up,” said Michael Freeman, an electrical construction wiring student competing at the college level.

Competing against thousands of peers is likely to make even the most seasoned and confident students nervous.

"I was a little frustrated with the initial start, because I couldn’t think of a character,” said Sean Lee, competing in 3-D Animation and Visualization at the college level. “But once we got started, I wasn’t nervous anymore.”

Both Freeman and Lee were recognized for their work. Freeman won a bronze medal, and Lee won a gold. At nationals, Lee and his partner, Jake Douglas, narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth out of nine teams.

At the state competition, Freeman said the event was inspiring because it showed him that he could do the work.

“Just keep going, and figure out what you’re doing wrong,” he said. “I was kind of iffy about it, but once I started, I realized I already knew how to do it.”

Also arriving at SkillsUSA Nebraska for the first time: three students competing at the collegiate level in information technology services. Students Liam Blachard, Enzo Del Balzo and Codie Parsons were coached by Guillermo Rosas. Rosas said he was just happy to be there.

“It’s just a big win that we’re here,” he said. “We've been a unified department for over 25 years, and this is the first time info tech has participated in Skills[USA].”

Blachard and Del Balzo wanted to participate in the competition to help gauge what they know about the field and where they could improve. Both are lab technicians at MCC who are passionate about creating a community for other info tech students.

“We’re trying to build this community of students who help each other,” Del Balzo said. “Where instead of finishing up their work and walking out the door they look at their neighbor and ask if they need anything. You learn a lot more that way, and I found that out by being a lab tech. I didn’t realize the gaps in my knowledge until I had other people.”

The MCC students took home top honors at the state championship with Blanchard receiving the gold medal, Parsons receiving the silver and Del Balzo the bronze. In Atlanta, Blanchard placed second in the nation, managing the nerves first-time participants sometimes experience.

Even though he didn’t make it to nationals, Del Balzo hopes to return to the state competition next year.

“We're on the maiden voyage,” he said. “I'm trying to get my foot in the door and open it for other people. Hopefully next year we’ll be coming with more people.”

Returning to state, Mychaela Obbink was testing her knowledge of a new skill: automotive collision appraisal.

She previously competed in collision repair technology but shifted to collision appraisal after realizing that Gateway Collision Center — where she interns — was having trouble filling that position.

Gateway Collision Center is one of the College’s collision engineering partner shops, which allows students to receive hands-on experience while getting paid. Obbink is also taking advantage of the Career Forward grant, which covers tuition and allows Obbink to focus on her studies.

“I like [collision appraisal] more,” she said. “I have a greater understanding of what goes into fixing a car because of my experience in repair.”

Her experience earned her a bronze medal alongside fellow students Jeremy McBride (gold), and Tyler Kramar (silver).